Cape Town - The crowds at Kingsmead and St George's Park for the first and second Tests of the ongoing series between the Proteas and Australia were disappointing. 

There is no getting away from that. 

LIVE: Proteas v Australia - 3rd Test, Day 2

Day 1 of the first Test in Durban was on a Thursday, and Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed a total of 3 216 spectators in attendance. 

The Port Elizabeth Test, meanwhile, started on a Friday, but that didn't help the gate numbers at all. 

There were 3 123 in PE on Day 1. 

On Thursday, the third Test got underway in Cape Town, and finally there were some encouraging signs for CSA. 

In total, 9 293 fans looked on as Dean Elgar batted through the entire day to register his 11 Test century while Pat Cummins (4/64) put Australia on top with a deadly spell late in the day. 

Stadium officials also confirmed to Sport24 on Friday that they are expecting Saturday to be sold out - or at least extremely close to being sold out.

If that happens, Newlands will get 18 500 people through their gates on Day 3.